Oblong object holder

• US 8,418,843 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David H. Palmer
• Original Assignee: David H. Palmer
• Inventors: Palmer, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US12/924,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 206/37, 206/234, 206/37.1, 206/37.2, 206/37.5, 206/37.8, 206/37.9, 206/39.4
• US Class Current: 206/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/008 Pocket toiletry etuis
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/324 with pivoting keys A45C11/325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/04 Nail files, e.g. manually operated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/18 Manicure or pedicure sets, e.g. combinations without case, etui, or the like combined with or on sheath of scissors B26B13/22, B26B29/04

Abstract

A holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein comprising a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another with a restraining spring formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end with a pair of spring sides across from one another to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough and with the restraining spring supported on the mounting side end of a supporting one of the sidewall structures in the pair thereof such that the spring openings therein are also across from one another. An ejector is mounted in the holder to be positioned in the object retaining space at an ejector side of the object retaining space to extend between the pair of spaced apart oblong sidewall structures with the ejector formed of a resilient material. A pivot pin is positionable concurrently through each of the spring openings, and also removable therefrom.

Claims

1. A holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein, said holder comprising:

a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another each having a mounting side end across from one another,

a single restraining spring formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end with a pair of spring sides across from one another to engage an oblong object each extending away from said joined spring end to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough such that said spring openings are also across from one another, said restraining spring supported on said mounting side end of a supporting one of said sidewall structures in said pair thereof such that said spring openings therein are also across from one another, wherein that remaining one of said pair of sidewall structures has a sidewall opening there through at said mounting side end thereof across from said spring openings and has an opposite end thereof joined with an end support wall,

an ejector mounted in said holder to be positioned in said object retaining space at an ejector side of said object retaining space to extend between said pair of spaced apart oblong sidewall structures with said ejector formed of a resilient material such that an end thereof can be forced further into said object retaining space and thereafter return to said ejector side when said forcing ceases, and

a pivot pin positionable concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening, and also removable therefrom, wherein said pair of sidewall structures is a first pair of sidewall structures and said object retaining space is a first object retaining space and said support sidewall structure is spaced apart from said end wall support by a first ejector space, and further comprising a plurality of sidewall structure pairs each formed of a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another and each having a mounting side end across from one another, there being a separator sidewall structure in each sidewall structure pair having an opposite end thereof joined with said end support wall and an accommodating sidewall structure therein having an opposite end thereof spaced apart from said end support wall by an ejector space, said separator sidewall structure in each of said plurality of sidewall structure pairs being spaced apart from said accommodating sidewall structure in an adjacent sidewall structure pair, including a nearest sidewall structure in said first sidewall structure pair as an accommodating sidewall structure, by a corresponding object retaining space.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said restraining spring is a first restraining spring, and further comprising a plurality of restraining springs each formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end thereof with a pair of spring sides across from one another each extending away from said joined spring end to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough such that said spring openings are also across from one another, each said restraining spring supported on said mounting end of each said sidewall structure in said plurality of pairs thereof such that said spring openings therein are also across from one another including across from those in said first restraining spring.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said spring openings have opposite sides thereof separated by distances larger than those distances separating opposite sides of said sidewall opening.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said ejector is a first ejector that is curved sufficiently to form a joined ejector end thereof with a pair of ejector sides across from one another each extending away from said joined ejector end to each have a free end across from one another so that said first ejector mounted in said holder with said joined end thereof in said first ejector space to have one of said first ejector sides positioned in said first object retaining space at an ejector side of said first object retaining space to extend between said first pair of sidewall structures and to have that remaining one of said first ejector sides positioned in said corresponding object retaining space at an ejector side thereof to extend between said accommodating sidewall structure in said first sidewall structure pair and said separator sidewall structure in said adjacent sidewall structure pair, and further comprising a plurality of ejectors each curved sufficiently to form a joined ejector end thereof with a pair of ejector sides across from one another each extending away from said joined ejector end to each have a free end across from one another so that each said ejector in said plurality thereof is mounted in said holder with said joined end thereof in a corresponding said ejector space to have one side thereof positioned in said object retaining space at an ejector side thereof in a corresponding one of said plurality of sidewall structure pairs to extend between said sidewall structures therein and to have that remaining one of said ejector sides positioned in said corresponding object retaining space at an ejector side thereof to extend between said accommodating sidewall structure in said adjacent sidewall structure pair and said separator sidewall structure in said corresponding sidewall structure pair, each said ejector in said plurality thereof formed of a resilient material such that an end thereof can be forced further into said object retaining space in which it is positioned and thereafter return to said ejector side thereof when said forcing ceases.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of a said ejector space is formed by a recess in said end wall support.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a said joined ejector end of a said ejector is at least partially in said recess in said end wall support.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said joined ejector end of said ejector at least partially in said recess in said end wall support is constrained toward remaining there by a side of said recess pressing on said joined ejector end of said ejector.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said remaining one of said first pair of sidewall structures is a first outer sidewall and further comprising a second outer sidewall formed of an oblong sidewall structure spaced apart across a last object retaining space from that said one of said plurality of sidewall structures nearest to said second outer sidewall with all of said plurality of sidewall structures positioned between said first and second outer sidewalls, said second outer sidewall having a retainer shaft opening therein at said mounting side end thereof between an inner surface thereof across from said sidewall spring openings and an outer surface thereof on an opposite side of said second outer sidewall and said second outer sidewall further having an opposite end thereof joined with said end support wall.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising said first and second outer sidewalls being further joined by a dividing bar near said mounting side ends thereof adjacent said ejectors with said ejectors having an ejector button extending outward from each of said ejector sides thereof to be alongside said dividing bar such that said ejector buttons on said ejector sides of an ejector are on alternate sides of said dividing bar.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said pivot pin is positionable concurrently through each of said sidewall spring openings, said sidewall opening, a pin support opening extending into said second outer sidewall from said inner surface thereof, and said retainer shaft opening beginning from said pin support opening, and being further positionable when extending through these said openings to have a portion thereof blocked against being removed from these said openings by at least one of said first and second outer sidewalls, and also thereafter there being repositionable to be removable therefrom.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said retainer shaft opening has a smaller diameter than do said sidewall opening and said pin support opening, and said sidewall opening and said pin support opening each have a smaller diameter than do said spring openings with said retainer shaft opening extending partially through said second outer sidewall from said pin support opening to join a locking opening extending partially through said second outer sidewall from said outer side thereof, said locking opening having opposite sides thereof separated by distances larger than those distances separating opposite sides of said retainer shaft opening, and wherein said pivot pin comprises a key support shaft and a retainer shaft having a free end and having a joined end that is concentrically joined with said key support shaft at a locking end of said pivot pin with said retainer shaft and said retainer shaft opening each having a smaller diameter than said key support shaft, said retainer shaft being longer than said retainer shaft opening so, with said pivot pin positioned concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening and in said pin support opening, said retainer shaft extends into said lock opening through said retainer shaft opening, said retainer shaft having a protuberance thereon at a side thereof past its diameter at said free end thereof which can be positioned entirely within said locking opening and with said retainer shaft opening having an accommodation opening alongside thereof to form a retainer shaft combined opening such that said retainer shaft with said protuberance thereon can pass through said combined opening.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said pivot pin, at an operating end thereof opposite said locking end thereof, has a protuberance on said key shaft thereof at a side thereof past its diameter so, with said pivot pin positioned concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening and said retainer shaft extending into said lock opening through said retainer shaft opening, said protuberance is entirely outside of an outer side of said first outer sidewall opposite that side thereof adjacent to said first pair of sidewall structures, said protuberance having a portion thereof selectively extending into one of a channel and separated recess formed in said outer wall of said first outer sidewall.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said support sidewall structure has a sidewall opening therethrough at said mounting side end thereof between said spring openings, and said pivot pin is positionable concurrently through each of said spring openings and through each of said sidewall openings, and also removable therefrom.

14. A holder of oblong objects pivotably mounted therein so as to be selectively positionable and selectively retainable therein, said holder comprising:

a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another each having a mounting side end across from one another, wherein that remaining one of said pair of sidewall structures has a sidewall opening there through at said mounting side end thereof across from said spring openings and has an opposite end thereof joined with an end support wall,

a single restraining spring formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end with a pair of spring sides across from one another to engage an oblong object

each extending away from said joined spring end to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough such that said spring openings are also across from one another, said restraining spring supported on said mounting side end of a supporting one of said sidewall structures in said pair thereof such that said spring openings therein are also across from one another,

an ejector mounted in said holder to be positioned in said object retaining space at an ejector side of said object retaining space to extend between said pair of spaced apart oblong sidewall structures with said ejector formed of a resilient material such that an end thereof can be forced further into said object retaining space and thereafter return to said ejector side when said forcing ceases, and

a pivot pin positionable concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening, and also removable therefrom,

wherein said pair of sidewall structures is a first pair of sidewall structures and said object retaining space is a first object retaining space and said support sidewall structure is spaced apart from said end wall support by a first ejector space, and further comprising a plurality of sidewall structure pairs each formed of a pair of oblong sidewall structures spaced apart across an object retaining space from one another and each having a mounting side end across from one another, there being a separator sidewall structure in each sidewall structure pair having an opposite end thereof joined with said end support wall and an accommodating sidewall structure therein having an opposite end thereof spaced apart from said end support wall by an ejector space, said separator sidewall structure in each of said plurality of sidewall structure pairs being spaced apart from said accommodating sidewall structure in an adjacent sidewall structure pair, including a nearest sidewall structure in said first sidewall structure pair as an accommodating sidewall structure, by a corresponding object retaining space.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said restraining spring is a first restraining spring, and further comprising a plurality of restraining springs each formed of a resilient sheet curved sufficiently to form a joined spring end thereof with a pair of spring sides across from one another each extending away from said joined spring end to each have a free end across from one another with each free end having a spring opening therethrough such that said spring openings are also across from one another, each said restraining spring supported on said mounting end of a corresponding said accommodating sidewall structure in said plurality of pairs of sidewall structures such that said spring openings therein are each across from said sidewall opening in said corresponding accommodating sidewall structure to have said spring openings in said plurality of restraining springs and said sidewall openings in said plurality of sidewall structure pairs are also all across from one another including across from those in said first restraining spring and said first sidewall structure pair.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said spring openings have opposite sides thereof separated by distances larger than those distances separating opposite sides of said sidewall opening.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said ejector is a first ejector that is curved sufficiently to form a joined ejector end thereof with a pair of ejector sides across from one another each extending away from said joined ejector end to each have a free end across from one another so that said first ejector mounted in said holder with said joined end thereof in said first ejector space to have one of said first ejector sides positioned in said first object retaining space at an ejector side of said first object retaining space to extend between said first pair of sidewall structures and to have that remaining one of said first ejector sides positioned in said corresponding object retaining space at an ejector side thereof to extend between said accommodating sidewall structure in said first sidewall structure pair and said separator sidewall structure in said adjacent sidewall structure pair, and further comprising a plurality of ejectors each curved sufficiently to form a joined ejector end thereof with a pair of ejector sides across from one another each extending away from said joined ejector end to each have a free end across from one another so that each said ejector in said plurality thereof is mounted in said holder with said joined end thereof in a corresponding said ejector space to have one side thereof positioned in said object retaining space at an ejector side thereof in a corresponding one of said plurality of sidewall structure pairs to extend between said sidewall structures therein and to have that remaining one of said ejector sides positioned in said corresponding object retaining space at an ejector side thereof to extend between said accommodating sidewall structure in said adjacent sidewall structure pair and said separator sidewall structure in said corresponding sidewall structure pair, each said ejector in said plurality thereof formed of a resilient material such that an end thereof can be forced further into said object retaining space in which it is positioned and thereafter return to said ejector side thereof when said forcing ceases.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein at least a portion of a said ejector space is formed by a recess in said end wall support.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein a said joined ejector end of a said ejector is at least partially in said recess in said end wall support.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said joined ejector end of said ejector at least partially in said recess in said end wall support is constrained toward remaining there by a side of said recess pressing on said joined ejector end of said ejector.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein said remaining one of said first pair of sidewall structures is a first outer sidewall and further comprising a second outer sidewall formed of an oblong sidewall structure spaced apart across a last object retaining space from that said one of said plurality of sidewall structures nearest thereto with all of said plurality of sidewall structures positioned between said first and second outer sidewalls, said second outer sidewall having a retainer shaft opening therein at said mounting side end thereof across from said spring openings and further having an opposite end thereof joined with said end support wall.

22. The device of claim 21 further comprising said first and second outer sidewalls being further joined by a dividing bar near said mounting side ends thereof adjacent said ejectors with said ejectors having ejector buttons extending outward from said ejectors alongside said dividing bar such that said ejector buttons on alternate ejectors are on alternate sides of said dividing bar.

23. The device of claim 17 wherein said retainer shaft opening has a smaller diameter than said sidewall opening and said sidewall opening has a smaller diameter than said spring openings with said retainer shaft opening extending partially through said second outer sidewall to join a locking opening extending partially through said second outer sidewall from an opposite side thereof having opposite sides thereof separated by distances larger than those distances separating opposite sides of said retainer shaft opening, and wherein said pivot pin comprises a key support shaft and a retainer shaft having a free end and a joined end concentrically joined with said key support shaft at a locking end of said pivot pin with said retainer shaft and said retainer shaft opening each having a smaller diameter than said key support shaft, said retainer shaft being longer than said retainer shaft opening so, with said pivot pin positioned concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening, said retainer shaft extends into said lock opening through said retainer shaft opening, said retainer shaft having a protuberance thereon at a side thereof past its diameter at said free end thereof which can be positioned entirely within said locking opening and with said retainer shaft opening having an accommodation opening alongside thereof to form a retainer shaft combined opening so that said retainer shaft with said protuberance thereon can pass through said combined opening.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said pivot pin, at an operating end thereof opposite said locking end thereof, has a protuberance on said key shaft thereof at a side thereof past its diameter so, with said pivot pin positioned concurrently through each of said spring openings and through said sidewall opening and said retainer shaft extending into said lock opening through said retainer shaft opening, said protuberance is entirely outside of an outer side of said first outer sidewall opposite that side thereof adjacent to said first pair of sidewall structures, said protuberance having a portion thereof selectively extending into one of a channel and separated recess formed in said outer wall of said first outer sidewall.